Cilic Saves 3 M.P. To Reach Memphis QFs; Querrey Falls

Memphis, U.S.A.

Top seed Marin Cilic battled past Igor Sijsling in the second round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships on Thursday, saving three match points to edge the Dutchman 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(7) in Memphis.

In the final set tie-break, Cilic trailed 4-6 and 6-7 before winning the final three points to prevail in two hours and 36 minutes. The Croat will square off against fifth seed Kei Nishikori next.

Nishikori defeated qualifier Donald Young 6-3, 6-3 to book his place in the quarter-finals. The 22nd-ranked Nishikori capitalised on five of his six break points in the 66-minute victory.

Marinko Matosevic reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final of the year, overcoming No. 4 seed Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. World No. 21 Querrey is the highest ranked opponent Matosevic has defeated since Eastbourne last year, when the Australian upset then 19th-ranked Richard Gasquet.

Matosevic plays seventh seed Alexandr Dolgopolov next. The Ukranian topped qualifier Rhyne Williams 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, prevailing over the American in two hours and 10 minutes. Dolgopolov is making his first appearance in Memphis.

Jack Sock moved through to his second tour-level quarter-final after defeating fellow wild card James Blake 7-5, 6-4. Sock saved nine of the 10 break points he faced to clinch the win in one hour and 48 minutes. The 20 year old will take on Feliciano Lopez in the quarter-finals. Lopez advanced when sixth seed Tommy Haas withdrew prior to their match with an illness.

World No. 63 Denis Istomin advanced to his fourth quarter-final in 2013, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes. The Uzbekistani converted four of the six break points he created and saved the four he faced to record his second victory this season over former World No. 1 Hewitt.